Sonny Baker replaces Brydon Carse in England’s second Test squad after an incident involving police in Derby
England have dropped Brydon Carse from the Test squad to play Pakistan following an incident that involved him being handcuffed by police outside a nightclub on Saturday night.
The Cricket Regulator has opened an investigation after a video clip emerged showing the fast bowler being detained by police on a night out in Derby, plunging the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) into yet another alcohol-related drama.
A statement from Derbyshire Police said: “A man in his 30s was arrested on suspicion of being drunk and disorderly in Derby city centre on Saturday night. However, the man was de-arrested shortly afterwards having agreed to leave the area.”
Carse was due to link up with his England teammates in London on Monday evening ahead of this week’s second Test at Lord’s, but the 31-year-old was stood down after the independent disciplinary body confirmed it would be looking into the episode.
A statement from the ECB read: “Following a referral from the ECB, the Cricket Regulator have confirmed that they will investigate events on Saturday night in Derby. Brydon Carse will no longer be available for selection for the second men’s Test match while this investigation is ongoing and the full facts are obtained.”
Sonny Baker, who made his debut at The Oval earlier this summer when Ben Stokes and Gus Atkinson were left out against New Zealand for breaking a curfew, has been added to the squad as bowling cover.
Carse was not on England duty at the time of the alleged incident after being an unused member of the squad for the first Test, which England won comfortably at Headingley. He had been playing in a domestic county match at Derby, won by Durham earlier on Saturday.
Stokes and England seamer Matthew Potts were also seen in the video published by the Telegraph following starring roles in that match. There is no indication either Stokes or Potts did anything untoward.
The investigation comes five days after England’s returning Test captain Joe Root spoke of the players needing to be “really good role models and human beings” after a series of incidents in the past 12 months that prompted accusations of a drinking culture.
Besides the curfew breach vice-captain Harry Brook was fined £30,000 ($A57,000) following an altercation with a bouncer in New Zealand.
In June, Stokes announced his retirement from international cricket while Brendon McCullum was sacked as Test coach a month later.
The second Test against Pakistan begins on Thursday (8pm AEST).
